Size adjuster for dresses



Aug. 17, 1937. H. D. LYTTLE SIZE ADJUSTER FOR DRES SES Filed Jan. 14, 1937 Z OR. 22 Z 6,

ATORNY Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a size adjuster for dresses and other garments and more particularly relates toa gauge strip temporarily applied to a dress by a manufacturer in cooperating relation t0 seams thereof so that the seams can be accurately let out to increase the. size of the garment.

At the present time, dresses are made in a number of sizes and a merchant must purchase dresses of difierent sizes in order that a dress of the proper size may be soldto a customer. 'Ihis makes it necessary for the merchant to carry a large stock of dresses which represent a large investment and it often happens that sale of a 10 dress is lest due to the fact that the merchant does not have a dress of the proper size in the pattern selected by a customer.

Theref0re, one object of the invention is to provide a dress having a size adjuster associated therewith which permits the dress to be. very easily altered and fit the customer. It will thus be seen that the merchant can purchase dresses of an approximate size and easily alter them in case the made up size is too small for the eustomer.

Another object of the invention is to so form the size adjuster that it may be carried by the hem for the bottom of a dress in such position that it extends along a side seam in bridging relation to hems of the side seam, gauge markings being provided upon the size adjuster in transverse. spaced relation to each other so that if the dress as made is too small, companion gauge markings and portions of the hems can be brought together and the hems accurately seamed to each other, the original seam being then removed so that the dress will be increased one or more sizes as necessary to provide. the correct fit.

Still another object of the invention resides in providing a device Which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very efficient in operation and application to use.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more 50 particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a fragment 55 of a dress or other garment showing the improved sections I and 2 are sewed together as shown at size adjuster as it appears when initially applied thereto Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure' 1 showing 5 the size adjuster associated With a garment of an intermediate size;

Figure l is a. sectional view taken along the line of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 3 showing the size adjuster associated With a large size garment;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a portion of the garment in longitudinal section at one side of the seam; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the size. adjuster.

The dress or other garment is formed cf sections which are sewed to each other to provide seams at sides of the garment, it being understood that the dress may be formed With other seams if the style of dress calls for them. The side seams have the size adjusters associated With them as these seams are to be let out in case the garment is too small for the customer. When the garment is out the sections are of such dimensions that when side edge portions of the 30 3 to form a seam, wide hems 4 and 5 will be provided at opposite sides of the seam. A binding 6 is sewed along the lower edges of the sections and when the lower portions of the sections are turned up to form a lower hem I, the upper edge of the. binding is basted tothe sections as shown at 8 in order that it Will be temporarily secured and the hem may be adjusted in case the dress is not the right length.

The size adjuster 9 consists of a strip of linen or other fabric which can be easily folded and Will not detract from the appearance of the dress or prevent it from being washed and ironed in case the size adjuster is left upon the garment for guidance of a customer who purchases a garment for a growing child and may wish to increase the size thereof as the child grows. The size adjuster or strip 9 is of rectangular outline as shown in Figure 8 and is sewed to the binding 6 by a line of stitching l 0 in such position that it extends upwardly from the lower hem l alongthe seam 3 in overlying and bridging relation to the side hems 4 and 5. Side edges of the strip or size adjuster are in close proximity to edges of the hems and the dot-and-dash line l l at the transverse center of the strip is disposed in alinement With the seam 3. At equal distances from opposite sides of the center line Il are provided companion indicator fines 12 and l3 which are correspondingly marked as shown at [4 and 15 to designate increases in size of the garment by one or two sizes. The upper end of the strip is stitched to the hems as shown at 16 to hold it in place fiat against the hems.

When a dress or other garme-nt provided with size adjusters is tried on by a customer and it is found to be toc small, the fitter can very easily increase the size of the garment by folding the size adjusters associated with the side seams along the center lines Il until either the gauge fines l2 or I3 are brought together and then sewing the hems to each other to form a new seam, after which the original seam can be removed. An accurate adjustment will thus be made and the garment increased one or two sizes so that it Will fit the customer. Instead of the manufacturer making the garment in its smallest size, the garrhent can be made an intermediate size as shown in Figures 3 and 4 or it may be made its largest size as shown in Figures 5 and 6. When the initial size is the intermediate size shown in Figures 3 and 4, the garment can be either taken in or let out by using the gauge lines as guides and when the garment is initially made its largest size as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the garment may be taken in by using the gauge limes as guides to determine the correct width of seam to provide a garment of the correct size. After the garment has been adjusted to produce the correct size, the

size adjuster may be removed, or it can be left in place so that When the garment is bought for a growing child, it can be later on altered as the child grows.

While in the present invention, I have disclosed the linen strip, constituting the size adjuster, as being sewed to the inside of the hem, it is to be understood that the linen strip may equally as well be attached to the outside of the hem at the side seam.

It will thus be seen that a merchant instead of purchasing garments of a popular pattern in all sizes need only purchase a stock of garments of approximate 'sizes and can very easily alter the garments to obtain a correct fit as they are bought by customers.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the operation thereof and the method of applying the same to use Will be readily understood. It will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and eflcient means for carrying out the objects of the invention and while I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the funetions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a garment, companion sections having adjoining edge portions folded inwardly back upon themselves and sewed to each other at the fold line to form a seam and wide hems at opposite sides of the seam, and a gauge strip extending longitudinally of the seam against exposed faces of the hems with its transverse center aligned with the seam, companion gauge markings being provlded upon the strip at equal distances from the center whereby the hems may be accurately brought together and sewed to each other and the original seam removed toincrease the size of the garment.

2. In a garment, companion sections having adj0ining edge portions folded inwardly and sewed to each other at the fold line to form a seam. and hems along opposite sides thereof, lower portions of the sections being turned up and secured to form a lower hem, and a gauge strip between the lower hem and side hems extending longitudinally of the side hems and having longitudinally extending gauge markings spaced equal distances from the transverse center of the gauge strip whereby the side hems and companion gauge markings may be brought together and the side hems sewed together and the original seam removed to increase the size of the garment.

3. In a garment, sections having side edge portions sewed together to form a seam and wide hems at opposite sides thereof, and a strip extending along said hems in bridging relation thereto and having companion gauge marks spaced equal distances from the seam whereby the hems may be folded to bring selected ones of the companion gauge marks together and the hems seamed to each other and the original seam removed to accurately increase the size of the garment.

4. A garment having a seam and free edge portions at opposite sides of the seam, and a strip secured in bridging relation to the seam and the said free edge portions, said strlp having a medial line intermediate its width disposed in alignment with said seam, companion gauge markings being provided at equal distances from opposite sides of said medial line to permit the said free edge portions to be equally adjusted and the size of the garment altered.

HARRY D. LYIILE. 

